2013 MIAC Women's Cross Country Preview

MIAC women's cross country preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

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2013 MIAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CONFERENCE PREVIEW

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- It seems almost impossible that the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) women's cross country standings could be as close at the top as they were in 2012, but with a lot of talent back for the conference's top contenders, anything is possible. The talent level continues to be very even across the league's favorites, creating tons of optimism for the 2013 MIAC season.

A year ago, Gustavus claimed the conference championship by edging runner-up St. Olaf and third-place Carleton in one of the closest team finishes in conference history, with just 11 points separating the top three places. The Gusties won the title with 57 points, the Oles were three points back at 60, and Carleton finished with 68 points to conclude a thrilling MIAC Championship race.

St. Thomas - led by graduated individual champ Taylor Berg - was solidly in fourth with 102 points. Saint Benedict scored 170 to barley edge Concordia (177) for the final spot in the top five. Hamline cracked 200 points, finishing seventh with 199. Macalester was eighth with 215 and St. Catherine was five points behind the Scots with 220. Augsburg (261), Bethel (287) and Saint Mary's (324) rounded out the final three places in the standings.

The 2013 season and MIAC Championship begin with equal promise of a season ago. Only six of the MIAC's 15 All-Conference runners graduated, along with just four of the 10 All-MIAC Honorable Mention runners. In addition, the league's top teams were recognized and adorned with expectation in the preseason national and regional rankings.

Three MIAC teams all received national rankings, with Carleton ranked 14th, St. Olaf four spots back at No. 18, and Saint Benedict also in the top 30 at No. 29. Defending MIAC champ Gustavus nearly made it four teams, as the Gusties received votes and were the first team outside the top 35 rankings.

Regionally, the MIAC women have six of the Central Region's top-10 teams, starting with Carleton at No. 2. St. Olaf is ranked fourth, Saint Benedict fifth and Gustavus sixth. The St. Thomas women are also regionally ranked at No. 7, and Concordia rounds out the MIAC teams in the poll at No. 8. The MIAC's six ranked teams were the most in the region, as the IIAC had two and the Midwest and UMAC had one apiece.

The season officially started on Friday, Aug. 30, with many of the MIAC teams in action, and the rest are ready to start in early September. Throughout the two months leading up to the conference meet in St. Paul, many returning stars will aim to re-establish themelseves and lower their times from a season ago, while no doubt many new faces and potential stars will emerge on the trails and courses throughout the conference. The season-long drama and culmination at the MIAC meet is here, and the fun can really begin.

WHAT'S NEW?
After just one coaching change a year ago - Shannon Houlihan taking over at St. Catherine - it was all quiet on the MIAC women's cross country coaching front in 2013, other than the addition of a co-head coach at Hamline. Paul Schmaedeke, entering his 25h season with the Pipers, welcomed Adam Frye this summer as a co-head coach of the Hamline cross country teams. 

A pair of coaches have both been at their current post for 30-plus seasons - St. Thomas' Joe Sweeney (34th season) and St. Olaf's Chris Daymont (33rd season) to lead all conference coaches. Carleton's Donna Ricks (21st season) and Augsburg's Dennis Barker (20th) also have served as a head coach in the conference at their current institution for at least 20 seasons.

WHO'S BACK?
If Gustavus hopes to defend its thrilling 2012 MIAC championship, Head Coach Dale Bahr certainly has a pair of returning leaders to carry the torch this fall. Rebecca Hare, a junior, was the team's top runner at the MIAC meet with her fourth-place finish. Caitlin Fermoyle, another junior, also returns after finishing a spot behind Hare in fifth last season. Both returning juniors were All-MIAC selections as sophomores.

St. Olaf's success will likely start with star Jorden Johnson. The Ole junior was second at the MIAC meet, seventh at the Central Region championship race, and ninth at the NCAA Division III Championships, and returns as one of the MIAC's individual favorites. Seniors Meggie Exner and Moriah Novacinski are also back, and first-year runner Noelle Olson is off to a great start after winning the first MIAC Athlete-of-the-Week award of the 2013 season.

Carleton's No. 14 national ranking is bolstered by a talented sophomore trio. Ruth Steinke, Shira Kaufman and Sally Donovan all earned All-MIAC honors last season and each finished in the top 22 at the Central Region championships. With another year of experience, the Knights could be in for bigger things in 2013 behind this threesome.

Saint Benedict earned its national ranking on the strength of its three returning All-Region runners. Senior Kelsie Larson, junior Manon Gammon-Deering and sophomore Cathleen Gross are all back for a talented Blazer squad. Meanwhile, Concordia returns a strong veteran team up in Moorhead. Seniors Hannah Knickerbocker and Morgan Christian were the Cobbers top two runners a year ago, and classmate Kathryn Stalnaker is also back to bolster the Concordia lineup.

Hamline also has a senior-laden team, with three of its top runners back. All-MIAC runner Maria Theisen leads the Pipers, while Cassie Ernst and Hannah Toedter also return for Hamline in 2013. Macalester will have to replace top runner Rachel Gunsalus, but also has a pair of talented seniors back to lead this season. Lucy Andrews and Becky Kane were both solid last season and head the Scots returners in 2013. St. Catherine welcomes back two of its top runners as All-MIAC Honorable Mention junior Aliee Larson and senior Kristina Poss return to lead the Wildcats this season, along with returning junior Jenna McElroy.

Augsburg will again be led by junior Kayla Roberge and sophomore Mary Klecker who were both among the Auggies top three runners at the MIAC meet a year ago. Bethel had to say goodbye to NCAA qualifier Mollie Gillberg, but will count on senior Tera Herold and juniors Melody Walton and Michelle Tellez to lead the way in 2013. Saint Mary's welcomes back top runner Katie Stolz, and the junior will team with seniors Kristen Thelen and Katherine Mockler as the Cardinals look to improve this fall.

CIRCLE THESE DATES
Clearly the first date any MIAC women's cross country fan will want to circle on the 2013 calendar is Saturday, Nov. 2. That's the date the conference's 12 teams will come together to compete for the title at the 2013 MIAC Cross Country Championships. The race will again be held at St. Paul's Como Park Golf Course, with the women's 6K race scheduled to start at 2:15 p.m. Spectators are welcome, and the MIAC web site will be a great resource for previews, details, results, recaps, photos and more.

There are a handful of events during the 2013 fall season that will showcase most of the MIAC in one race, the first of which is a staple in the state of Minnesota. The University of Minnestoa's Roy Griak Invitational will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 9 a.m. Augsburg, Bethel, Carleton, Concordia, Hamline, Macalester, St. Catherine, St. Olaf and St. Thomas will all run in the Division III race.

Five MIAC teams will meet head-to-head at the St. Catherine Invitational on Oct. 12 in St. Paul. Hamline, Macalester, Saint Benedict, St. Catherine and St. Thomas will all be in the field.  A week later - on Oct. 19 - Augsburg, Carleton, Concordia, Gustavus, Hamline, Macalester, Saint Benedict, Saint Mary's, St. Olaf and St. Thomas will all compete at the UW-La Crosse Tori Neubauer Invitational in West Salem, Wis. That will be the final major tune-up before the MIAC Championships.

A CLOSER LOOK
The rest of the 2013 MIAC Women's Cross Country Preview contains MIAC Championship details, helpful links and a preview for each team submitted by their sports information director. The new MIAC web site - www.miacathletics.com - will be an outstanding source for MIAC women's cross country news, schedules, results, stats and more throughout the 2013-14 season.

This year, the MIAC scoreboard will include women's cross country events, with links to results to see how MIAC teams fared in each race throughout the season. Also, download the MIAC mobile app to have all the information with you anywhere you travel. Also, connect to the conference on its Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for updates and interaction all season long.

2013 MIAC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2013 MIAC Cross Country Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 2, at Como Park Golf Course in St. Paul, Minn. This year's host school is Bethel University. The MIAC has a championship home page for the event, which will feature complete details and race previews as well as results, recaps, photos and more. The women's 6K race, which begins at 2:15 p.m., will crown the MIAC team champion, and the top 15 individuals will be honored with All-Conference honors. Finishers 16-25 will receive All-MIAC Honorable Mention. Admission is free and spectators are encouraged to attend.

| 2013 MIAC Cross Country Championships Page |